MPC5000 reviews, bug reports and fellow user support on the most recent standalone, hardware MPC from Akai

By Dirty J Sat Mar 29, 2008 9:45 pm
sorry if this has been asked before but.. do the filters affect every layer on a single pad still? or is it possible to run seperate filters on each layer? , I thought this would be useful for getting that right sound when layering , instead of having ur samples on seperate pads to run seperate filters
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By Askia Shaheed Sat Mar 29, 2008 9:55 pm
scd wrote:
Askia Shaheed wrote:Yes..I understand. That is typical with MPCs. However, compression/limiter, gates, and EQ often fall into dynamics and are on the channel strips of many (if not most) digital mixers. I simply suggest this an an improvement. I am for all and any improvements to the way sound can be shaped onboard the MPC. This is why also also suggested adding parametric EQ to the filter section for each sampler....and not as just an effect or across the MPCs master output.


I understand what you mean, but I think this MPC has quite extended sound sculpture possibilities on board. Adding for instance a compressor to the sample level is a bit (but not completely) overdone isn't it?
Besides in program mix you can compress/eq/limit per pad even though you have to use one of the FX for that.
And what you suggest seems only usefull for programs with various samples (like drumprograms), but not for synthprograms or any other single sound program (bass, keys, pads etc.).
What I mean to say is that what you want to do IS already possible on the 5k. Having those dynamics on one sample or one pad.


I agree that the MPC has good sound sculpure possibilities on board but they can be better. It doesn't matter to me how Akai implements the idea..but I would like to have an EQ for individual sounds and an EQ for individual synth/single sound program. Its true that you can use the FXs to do just this, but there are only 4 FXs busses. I really believe that add ing an EQ in the filter section for each sound/pad would be great. I believe the MV-8800 has an EQ for each sound.
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By scd Sat Mar 29, 2008 10:02 pm
Askia Shaheed wrote:I agree that the MPC has good sound sculpure possibilities on board but they can be better. It doesn't matter to me how Akai implements the idea..but I would like to have an EQ for individual sounds and an EQ for individual synth/single sound program. Its true that you can use the FXs to do just this, but there are only 4 FXs busses. I really believe that add ing an EQ in the filter section for each sound/pad would be great. I believe the MV-8800 has an EQ for each sound.


What would you exactly like in terms of EQ? Parametric, how many bands? A type with level, bandwidth (Q) and centre frequency?
I mean, the filters themself are equalizers as well. I will gladly enter a feature request for a next OS but try to convince me (and thus Akai) a bit more :)
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By scd Sat Mar 29, 2008 10:06 pm
Dirty J wrote:sorry if this has been asked before but.. do the filters affect every layer on a single pad still? or is it possible to run seperate filters on each layer? , I thought this would be useful for getting that right sound when layering , instead of having ur samples on seperate pads to run seperate filters


No the filter works on the whole layer. To achieve what you want there is a workaround by using several pads to layer a sound. In simultaneous mode you can link maximum 4 other pads to the pad you are playing. That way you could achieve what you want.
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By Askia Shaheed Sat Mar 29, 2008 10:40 pm
scd wrote:
Askia Shaheed wrote:I agree that the MPC has good sound sculpure possibilities on board but they can be better. It doesn't matter to me how Akai implements the idea..but I would like to have an EQ for individual sounds and an EQ for individual synth/single sound program. Its true that you can use the FXs to do just this, but there are only 4 FXs busses. I really believe that add ing an EQ in the filter section for each sound/pad would be great. I believe the MV-8800 has an EQ for each sound.


What would you exactly like in terms of EQ? Parametric, how many bands? A type with level, bandwidth (Q) and centre frequency?
I mean, the filters themself are equalizers as well. I will gladly enter a feature request for a next OS but try to convince me (and thus Akai) a bit more :)


Same as the Master EQ...4 band with the middle two being parametric. Yes, the filters are equalizers but even more can be accomplished by adding this in an update. This is something that you can see as value or not. Why limit the filters if they can be improved?
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By mp3 Sat Mar 29, 2008 10:53 pm
I'd vote for a simple one-band EQ as a filter type. It could just be another option on the filter page. It could be selectable between a one band parametric, a low shelf, or a high shelf. Frequency, Q, and Gain adjustable. There are other hardware samplers with this ability. Some of them even allow you to use the one-band EQ along with a 'regular lp/hp filter at the same time (Yamaha A5000).

A full blown 4 band EQ per sample would be nice, but I doubt the 5000 is powerful enough to support 64 of them. That's like 256 filters...
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By LvngDead Sun Mar 30, 2008 7:25 pm
I just searched the entire 5000 Refrence Manual for the word "EQ" and "equalizer". Seems like the only actual EQ used to be used as a Master Effect. That sucks.
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By scd Sun Mar 30, 2008 7:33 pm
LvngDead wrote:I just searched the entire 5000 Refrence Manual for the word "EQ" and "equalizer". Seems like the only actual EQ used to be used as a Master Effect. That sucks.


That's not true, the FX section has EQs too:
Parametric EQ 2 band, 2 Shelf
Parametric EQ 4 band
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By scd Sun Mar 30, 2008 7:35 pm
mp3 wrote:I'd vote for a simple one-band EQ as a filter type. It could just be another option on the filter page. It could be selectable between a one band parametric, a low shelf, or a high shelf. Frequency, Q, and Gain adjustable. There are other hardware samplers with this ability. Some of them even allow you to use the one-band EQ along with a 'regular lp/hp filter at the same time (Yamaha A5000).

A full blown 4 band EQ per sample would be nice, but I doubt the 5000 is powerful enough to support 64 of them. That's like 256 filters...


Yes, you are probably right. Adding one as filter type seems to be the most logical idea. I'll bring the issue up in the bugtracker...
Done :D
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By LvngDead Sun Mar 30, 2008 7:49 pm
What are the chances of my sequence looping idea actually being implemented? Well it's not my idea, but the Roland MVs.
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By Askia Shaheed Sun Mar 30, 2008 8:02 pm
scd wrote:
mp3 wrote:I'd vote for a simple one-band EQ as a filter type. It could just be another option on the filter page. It could be selectable between a one band parametric, a low shelf, or a high shelf. Frequency, Q, and Gain adjustable. There are other hardware samplers with this ability. Some of them even allow you to use the one-band EQ along with a 'regular lp/hp filter at the same time (Yamaha A5000).

A full blown 4 band EQ per sample would be nice, but I doubt the 5000 is powerful enough to support 64 of them. That's like 256 filters...


Yes, you are probably right. Adding one as filter type seems to be the most logical idea. I'll bring the issue up in the bugtracker...
Done :D



If you are going to pitch the idea, please look at the link I posted for the MV-8800. The MV-8800 is powerful enough to add EQ to each instrument part and audio track. I would hope that the MPC 5000 is as powerful.
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By LvngDead Sun Mar 30, 2008 8:08 pm
I was looking at the Alesis Fusion manual. And looks like with version 1.21 OS, it can actually specify a loop point for a sequence down to the individual ppqn. Just like the MV.

I'm gettin a weird feelin that they're workin on a more powerful MPC that will replace the Fusion.
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By scd Sun Mar 30, 2008 8:40 pm
Askia Shaheed wrote:
scd wrote:
mp3 wrote:I'd vote for a simple one-band EQ as a filter type. It could just be another option on the filter page. It could be selectable between a one band parametric, a low shelf, or a high shelf. Frequency, Q, and Gain adjustable. There are other hardware samplers with this ability. Some of them even allow you to use the one-band EQ along with a 'regular lp/hp filter at the same time (Yamaha A5000).

A full blown 4 band EQ per sample would be nice, but I doubt the 5000 is powerful enough to support 64 of them. That's like 256 filters...


Yes, you are probably right. Adding one as filter type seems to be the most logical idea. I'll bring the issue up in the bugtracker...
Done :D



If you are going to pitch the idea, please look at the link I posted for the MV-8800. The MV-8800 is powerful enough to add EQ to each instrument part and audio track. I would hope that the MPC 5000 is as powerful.


I will.
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By Askia Shaheed Tue Apr 01, 2008 11:03 am
scd, there is one area where the MPC 5000 as well as other recent MPCs are really lacking. It's data compatibility. These MPCs cannot load older Akai formats as well as other popular formats such as .aff. It would be great for these newer MPCs to load at least .wav/aiff, Akai S1000/3000, and MPC .snd formats. Even the Roland MV-8800 can accomplish this.